November 27, 2009

At the Canadian Bay Calisthenics end of year concert a couple of weeks ago, Chelsea was awarded the Best Club Girl prize. It's such a huge honour and there were plenty of tears all 'round. Chelsea was pretty overwhelmed by it and was a total sook (check out the red rimmed eyes in all her photos). haha

I'm so happy that all her Grandparents were there to see it too (as it was a total surprise to us all). The person in the pic at top left is her Coach and good friend Kathy, who presented the award on stage and made a lovely speech. All this year Chelsea has not only been a leader in most of her Senior team items, but she has also given up 5 hours of her time every Saturday afternoon, without pay, to assist the Junior Section coaches. She always works hard and gives her best for the team at class and at competitions too. It was great to have that effort recognised.

The other piece of good fortune for her is that she now has a permanent part time job! She was asked to work one day a week, helping out with some admin work at Australian Super in the city (Peter's company). It was supposed to be for 6-8 weeks, but they are so impressed with her that they have asked her to stay on for next year as well. She doesn't work in the same department as Peter, but it is very handy that he can drive her to work most days. Her dancing course next year is Mon-Thurs, so she is able to work at Australian Super every Friday. It just works out beautifully for her.

She is a lucky, lucky girl. She has so much going for her and so much to look forward to. I'm so proud of her. She really is blossoming into a most impressive person.

November 25, 2009

I've been useless at taking photos lately,even though I always carry it with me, most of the time my camera just sits in my purse (where I presume it spends it's time chatting to my wallet).

There are certain photos that you HAVE to take. For instance at Chelsea's Valedictory Dinner last week. It's pretty rare that we have more than two members of the family dressed up at the same time, so when that happens, you've gotta take a photo, right? But I have to admit these are not my favourite type of photo and what I wish I'd taken were photos of Chels' having fun with all her friends. That's what I'll remember most from that joyful night, they were all so happy together.

Anyway, so here's the one shot I actually like from the event. Chels on stage, looking so happy, receiving her commendations. Taken from the very back of 14 rows of chairs with my little compact canon ixus.

And here's the obligatory "awkward family photo". Taken before we left home.

Chelsea looks as beautiful as ever, Peter looks creepy with his Mo, I have very bad posture and none of us are looking in the same spot! And this is the best of the photos Harry took!

btw. I made the dress I'm wearing. It's a variation on a vintage style dress I bought a couple of months ago.

The evening was a wonderful celebration of her school life at Woodleigh and I guess I'll always have the best memories of the event in my head, instead of in a scrapbook. sigh.

November 24, 2009

Harry is a teenager now!
Harry had his birthday on the 14th and is now officially a teen. (help!)
The day of his birthday was a really busy one and we weren't able to be together in the morning for the traditional present exchange, so we gave him his present the night before.
No sooner was the present (new roller blades) unwrapped, the next thing he did was strap them on a take them for a spin around the block.
(I was clever enough to also give him a new helmet to go with).

November 23, 2009

A few weeks back, I was asked to make three sheep costumes for a kindergarten nativity play. It was a fun job, but without a pattern it took a lot of thinking time. I was very happy with how they turned out though and Chelsea and I couldn't resist putting on the head pieces for a quick photo shoot before I handed them over (Harry refused to be in it). hehe

The past few weeks have been a very busy and sentimental time for me and everything seems to be of ending. Since my last post, Chelsea had her final day at school and has only one more exam to go (french written next Wednesday) then she'll have finished high school forever!

Chelsea and her two besties have been friends since Kindergarten and have been at Woodleigh together since grade six. I have a cute photo of them, like this one, on the day they were presented with their grade six badges. I'm pretty sure their heights were totally reversed in that photo - haha. I'm sure they'll be BFF's (that's Best Friends Forever - Dad).

We have also been up to Ballarat for Chelsea's Calisthenics Team competition and we had the best time! It was a super friendly, happy comp' and the girls gave their best performances of the year. They got a second for their Song & Dance item (thank you Neil and Peter for the lucky ties - wink) and got two fourths, for Free Exercises and Clubs. The best part of the trip was how many of the coaching staff came up to me and told me how I should be so proud of Chelsea, what a great leader and reliable performer she is! Is there anything better than having other people tell you how great your kids are? Tears all 'round.

Since then, we've had the Calisthenics Medal presentation day where lots more lovely speeches were made. Also our final Calisthenics class for the year (and the final one I will ever have to drive Chels to, as next year she will be able to drive herself - YAY).

The end of year concert is on this Saturday afternoon, which also happens to be Harry's 13th birthday! Wah! My baby will be soon be a teenager!!! By the end of the year I will officially have NO CHILDREN, I'll have one teen and one adult! boohoo

I am totally loving the week of 30+ weather we are having in Melb this week (30+ degrees and 30+ sunscreen) and we've all been hanging by the pool most afternoons, mostly swimming but some of us couldn't be bothered getting our hair wet. Not Harry, as you can see by this pic. haha

I've been on a bit of a sewing spree lately and so far I made myself a top, which I promptly hated and ended up turning into a cute skirt. Then I made a black singlet top based on my favourite shaped one out of my wardrobe. The next morning I decided to add a row of buttons from my stash to the neckline. It turned out so cute and I've already worn it to work this week.

Tomorrow I am making a couple of sheep costumes for my girlfriend who is a kinder teacher and needs new one for their nativity play. Can't wait to get started on that, because I've got such cute ideas in my head. I just hope they translate to the sewing machine.

Okay so that will have to do for this post. I won't leave it so long next time (promise, Dad). hehe